Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 15:38:52 -0700 From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Subject: GLAADlines 07.03.96 GLAADLINES contact: Don Romesburg (415) 861-2244 romesburg@glaad.org http://www. glaad.org News, Tips, and Information about the Gay & Lesbian Community July 3, 1996-- ANTI-GAY ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN HITS TV AIRWAVES: After an appeal to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) was tersely rejected, GLAAD launched a national media campaign on July 1 to alert television networks and stations of a public service announcement (PSA) it considers patently homophobic. The PSA presents a heroin-addicted teenager "David," describing his downward spiral by saying, "and now I have sex with men. . . for money to support my habit." (David cries) "I wish I didn't have to be like this." According to GLAAD, the spot suggests that drug use ultimately leads to sex with men, which the PDFA portrays as a social ill more severe than drug abuse and that the PDFA is using the supposed "threat" of homosexuality as a scare tactic to prevent drug use amongst teens. William Waybourn, GLAAD's managing director remarked, "The ad has the potential to exacerbate higher-than-average risks gay and lesbian youth face for substance abuse and suicide by implying that being gay is worse than being addicted to heroin. . . [and the ad] takes an even more dangerous step, reinforcing an antiquated and heinous stereotype: the predatory homosexual." For more information contact Alan Klein (GLAAD) at (212) 807-1700 or e-mail klein@glaad.org. GAY CHORUSES MAKING MUSIC IN TAMPA: The world's largest gay and lesbian choral festival will be held July 6-13 in Tampa, Fl. Produced by the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses), the event is estimated to draw over 30,000 attendants and spectators, and generate 10 to 20 million dollars in business for the local community. Highlights will include a keynote address by Maya Angelou and music by Holly Near and diva rock trio BETTY. In addition, the GALA Board of Directors will honor an individual or organization that has made a unique contribution to the lesbian and gay choral movement at the first-ever Legacy Award Dinner. Special speaker for the event will be Donna Red Wing, national community affairs director for GLAAD. For more information contact the Festival V office at (813) 837-4485 or e-mail GALAV@aol.com. GAY YOUTH MAKING NOISE IN SAN FRANCISCO: Young, Loud & Proud, a peer-based bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender and questioning youth leadership conference, will be held July 13-14 in San Francisco. Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center (LYRIC) program director Oren Slozberg says, "It's supposed to be local, but the internet made it national. We expect more than 200 people -- who knows?" For more information contact Oren Slozberg (LYRIC) at (415) 703-6156 or e-mail lyric@thecity.sfsu.edu. SERVING UP GAY HOSPITALITY AT THE OLYMPICS: For the first time in Olympic history, a host city's gay and lesbian community has created a Visitor's Center to address the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual athletes, coaches, and spectators. The Center, located just outside the Olympic Ring, will serve as a resource and communications hub as well as offer hospitality services, informational and educational exhibits and programming, music, dance and theater. For more information contact Julie Rhoad (Candler Creative) at (404) 681-5354. If you know of an event that merits media coverage, or if there is a news story breaking in your area, please contact us. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of combating homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. To subscribe contact Don Romesburg at (415) 861-2244 or at romesburg@glaad.org. "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org VISIT THE GLAAD WEB SITE AT http://www.glaad.org! GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.